5 things you need to know about Fargo

1. ensemble cast - The golden age of television continues to lure high-profile actors to television series. In this case, the ensemble cast is led by Oscar-winning actor Billy Bob Thornton. He headlines his first TV project as mysterious drifter Lorne Malvo, a who causes all sorts of mayhem after meeting a small-town insurance salesman (played by Martin Freeman). Freeman was in the original British version of The Office and currently plays Watson in BBC’s hit Sherlock. Bob Odenkirk played Walter White’s morality-free lawyer Saul Goodman on AMC’s Breaking Bad. Colin Hanks had recurring roles in both Mad Men and Dexter, while Oscar winner Keith Carradine has starred in Dexter, Deadwood and Damages.

Frederick M. Brown
/ Getty Images

2. A different story - While Joel and Ethan Coen, who made the original 1996 film of the same name, are listed as executive producers, they did not have any hands-on involvement in the series. All 10 episodes were written by showrunner Noah Hawley, who took the original film’s look, dark humour and penchant for graphic violence and created a new set of characters and storyline. The series tells the story of meek insurance salesman Lester falling under the influence of Thornton’s Lorne Malvo. A high body count apparently follows.Courtesy
/ FX

3. Creator a novelist - By all accounts, Noah Hawley took great pains to avoid TV cliches and Fargo is anything but formulaic. It’s 10-episode arc plays out like a 10-hour movie. Hawley’s has also written four novels, including A Conspiracy of Tall Men, Other People’s Weddings, The Punch, and The Good Father.Getty Images
/ Postmedia News

4. Not first attempt - In 1997, a pilot for Fargo was shot starring a pre-Sopranos Edie Falco as Marge Gunderson. The series never took off and while it was based more directly on original film’s plots and characters, the Coen brothers had no involvement.Courtesy
/ FX

5. Albertans in cold - Fargo will be aired in Canada on FXX, a new spinoff station from FX. So far, FX Canada will only air the first episode on April 15 so Albertans can have a taste but, unfortunately, FXX is only available for Rogers subscribers and no Alberta carriers have confirmed that they will pick it up ... yet.Courtesy
/ FX

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